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 one among them that have escaped with a whole heart ; and yet I was the first he paid attention to when he came into this country six years ago; and very great attention did he pay me. Some people say that he has never seemed to like any girl so well since, though he is always behaving in a particular way to one or another.’

‘And how came your heart to be the only cold one?’ said Emma, smiling.

‘There was a reason for that,’—replied Miss Watson, changing colour—‘I have not been very well used among them, Emma, I hope you will have better luck.’

‘Dear sister, I beg your pardon, if I have unthinkingly given you pain.’

‘When first we knew Tom Musgrave, continued Miss Watson, without seeming to hear her, ‘I was very much attached to a young man of the name of Purvis, a particular friend of Robert’s, who used to be with us a great deal, Everybody thought it would have been a match.’

A sigh accompanied these words, which Emma respected in silence; but her sister after a short pause went on.

‘You will naturally ask why it did not take place, and why he is married to another woman, while I am still single. But you must ask him—not me— you must ask Penelope. Yes, Emma, Penelope was at the bottom of it all. She thinks everything fair for a husband. I trusted her; she set him against me with a view of gaining him herself, and it ended